Under the motto "Faith, an immortal pillar," Zaragoza will become a meeting point for four days for young members of brotherhoods and religious confraternities from different Spanish cities. The program will combine processions, concerts featuring traditional instruments, exhibitions, religious events and social activities, while also showcasing the heritage and traditions of the Aragonese capital to participants.
The gathering, which is held in a different city each year, will come to Zaragoza for the first time after several attempts to persuade the Aragonese capital to host the event. Attendees will be able to experience firsthand a Holy Week with more than 700 years of history, 25 brotherhoods, confraternities and congregations, more than 16,000 members and 53 processions.
AN EXTRAORDINARY PROCESSION OF 23 FLOATS THROUGH ZARAGOZA
One of the most eagerly awaited events will take place on Saturday, October 24, at 6:30 p.m., when a grand extraordinary procession will set out from the Cathedral of the Savior, La Seo, and travel through the streets of the historic center until approximately 9:00 p.m.
The procession will recreate the Stations of the Cross with 23 floats, from the Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem to the Resurrection. It will be accompanied by around 220 young members of the JOHC Group, who will play drums, bass drums, timpani, ratchets, rattles and bells.
Saturday's program will also include an opening prayer at 9:30 a.m. in the Patio de la Infanta at Fundación Ibercaja, a presentation on the future of religious brotherhoods and activities at Colegio Compañía de María. At 12:30 p.m., the venue will host a workshop dedicated to the traditional instruments of Zaragoza's Holy Week, as well as a communal meal for participants.
FOUR DAYS OF ACTIVITIES IN THE ARAGONESE CAPITAL
The program will begin on Thursday, October 22, with a prayer vigil at 7:45 p.m. at the Church of Santa Isabel de Portugal, known as San Cayetano. Later, at 9:00 p.m., the image of Saint John the Evangelist, patron saint of young members of religious brotherhoods, will set out in procession toward the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, where it is expected to arrive at 9:30 p.m.
On Friday, October 23, the Ad Salvatorem exhibition will open at 1:00 p.m. at La Seo. That evening, at 8:40 p.m., the participating delegations will make a floral offering to Our Lady of the Pillar.
At 9:00 p.m., Plaza del Pilar will host the gathering's opening ceremony, which will showcase some of Zaragoza's most representative Holy Week traditions. There will be jotas, a historical reenactment group and a performance of the Rosary of Crystal.
Following Saturday's grand procession, the gathering will conclude on Sunday, October 25, with a Eucharist at 11:00 a.m. at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar. At noon, the image of Saint John the Evangelist will return in procession to San Cayetano, and half an hour later the gathering's conclusions will be announced and the city that will host the next edition will be revealed.
ZARAGOZA, A HOLY WEEK BENCHMARK
The celebration will introduce young people from across Spain to one of the Aragonese capital's most deeply rooted traditions. Zaragoza's Holy Week, declared an International Tourist Interest Festival in 2014, features more than 4,000 instruments and has the sound of drums, bass drums and timpani as one of its main defining characteristics.
